Fluid jet cleaner for boilers



Nov. 14, 1950 c. G. MARKS 2,530,018

FLUID JET CLEANER FOR BOILERS Filed Deo. 31, 1948 ZSheetS-Sheet lINVENTOR. CONRAD G. MARKS ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1950 c. G. MARKS FLUID JETCLEANER FoE BOILERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3l, 194B INVENTOR.

CONRAD G. MARKS FALJWJ l ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FLUID JET CLEANER FOR BOILERS Conrad G. Marks, Jasper,Ind.

Application December 31, 1948, Serial No. 68,700

. 1 Claim.

This invention relates to .blowers for boilers and generally provides asupply pipe `system for a boiler blower including a general supply line,a swivel joint, the axis of which approaches the extended axis of theboiler door hinges so that it turns as the boiler door moves, an offsetswivel joint connection, a main pipe extending from the offset swivelconnection substantially the length of the boiler door and having itsaxis substantially parallel with the hinges of the door, tap linesleading from the main pipe to the jet arms, which in turn extend throughthe boiler door to the jets. A second swivel joint is provided in themain pipe between the tap lines and the oifset swivel joint connectionto further -accoinmon date angular changes in the system as the boilerdoor is opened. The offset swivel joint is posi'- tioned slightlyforward of and parallel to the axis of the door hinges. As the doorrotates about the hinges and the supply pipe system rotates about theswivel joint, the difference in the arcs of rotation must becompensated. The angles formed by the boiler door, the jet armextension, and the tap lines are always constant, thus requiring theswivel joint in the main pipe line to accommodate all angularvariations. Accompanying the angularV variations, and as a direct resultthereof, are space variations hetween the boiler door and the tap lines.Telescopic swivel joints are interposed between the jet arms and the taplines to allow rotation of the jets and to accommodate space variationscaused by angular changes in the supply system in opening the boilerdoor.Y A chain and sprocket systern` on the face of the boiler doorenables an operator to rotate jet arms of huge boilers .at a convenientposition, and suitable means are pro vided for regulating the steam orother gaseous supply to the jet arms.

More specically, it may be regarded as an improvement on apparatus ofthe general type shown in United States Patent 1,053,842 issued to JohnMcGee, February 18, 1913. The McGee describes a ue type boiler havingdoors at one end thereof and a single jet arm mounted on one of thedoors so that the arm may rotate to clean all the boiler flues. The dooropens to carry the jet arm therewith. No suitable oonnections forhandling v the supply of steam is disclosed in the McGee patent.

While the McGee patent describes a blower which may be satisfactory withregard to its boiler cleaning efficiency, it is difficult to install instandard existing boilers because of the lack of a suitable supplyarrangement which will not interfere with the opening of the boilerdoors.

Both the heat from the boiler and the necessity for a permanentinstallation make it desirable to have some sort of metallic supply line.from the steam or other fluid to the jet arm inside the boiler door.The lack of flexibility CVI of metallic piping requires a specialarrangement so that the boilers may be constantly ready for use and atthe same time the boiler doors may be readily operable.

It is an object of this invention to provide a supply system for aboiler blower which will be durable, flexible and simple and will permitof ready installation in existing, standard boilers.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improvedcombination of structural elements whereby the efficiency of blowersystems will be improved.

It is an object of this invention to provide, in a boiler blower systemwherein a jet arm, having jetsy directed toward boiler flues to becleaned, boiler door, and wherein an extension of said arm extendsperpendicularly through said door and means are provided for rotatingsaid jet arm by rotation of the exterior portion of said jet armextension, and a steam supply is provided for said jets, a steam supplyunit comprising a general supply pipe terminating in an offset swiveljoint with its axis approaching but apart from the extended axis of saiddoor hinges, a main pipe extending parallel to the axis of said doorhinges and outwardly spaced apart therefrom, an elbowed connection pipeconnecting said swivel terminating said general supply pipe with saidmain pipe line, a tap line leading from said main line to-said jet armextension, said tap line being perpendicular to said main pipe line andextending parallel to said boiler door, a swivel joint interposed insaid main pipe line between said tap line and said elbowed pipeconnections, whereby said swivel joints accommodate angular changescaused by the difference in the positioning of the axis of said doorhinges and said swivel terminating the general supply line when saiddoor is swung open or closed, and a telescopic swivel joint interposedbetween said tap line and said jet arm extension, whereby the swivelallows rotation of said jet without disturbing the supply unit and thetelescoping action accommodates variations in spacing of said tap linewith respect to said door caused by said angular changes.

These and other objects will be readily understood by reference to thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings in which:

1Eig. 1 is a perspective'view of a preferred form of the invention asinstalled on an existing standard boiler;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofv a preferred combined telescopic swiveljoint forming a part of the present invention and,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a jet arm embodying the presentinvention, and a supporting bracket therefor.

Reference character I indicatesl `a conventional flue type boiler whichhas hinged doors 3 is positioned interiorly of a hinged.

Although the drawings, as shown, illustrate a plurality of jet armsmounted at various points on the door of the boiler, a single jet armmounted at the extremity of one of the doors or any other suitablearrangement may be used, if preferred. To connect jet larms l withsupply pipe 5, so that the door 3 is freely movable in a normal manner,swinging or swivel joints i3 and l are interposed at suitable pointsalong the pipe supply system, and combined telescopic and swivel jointsIl are provided to connect jet arms l with tap lines 29.

Following the uid flow from the supply line 5, steam or other suitablefluid enters swivel joint I3, offset swivel joint connection 25, mainpipe line 2l, tap lines 28 and telescopic swivel joints I1 in order toreach jet arms l.

In the normally closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, the door and thesupply pipe system substantially form a rectangle when viewed as anoverhead elevation so that the telescopic swivel joint l1, and theoiTset swivel joint connection '25 form ends while the door 3 and tapline or tap lines 29 form the sides thereof. If possible, the supplysystem is arranged so that the axis of the swivel joint I3 lies alongthe extended axis of the hinges of door 3, and in this case, the abovedescribed rectangle will be retained regardless of the position of theboiler door. In such case, conventional fittings and the single swiveljoint I3 are satisfactory. However, in the majority of cases, existingboiler doors are hinged in such a fashion that it is impossible toarrange steam fittings to have a common axis therewith.

In the present invention, the location of swivel joint I3 is above thedoor 3 and away from the boiler, but its axis should remain parallelwith and approaching the extended axis of the door hinge. As door 3swings open, it carries with. it jet arms 7, telescopic swivel jointsil, the latter being perpendicular thereto, and tap lines 29 which areiixed at substantially a right angle to telescopic swivel jointsV Il.The entire pipe system tends to revolve around swivel i3, but swiveljoint l5, located between tap lines 2S and swivel joint connection 25,is adapted to revolve and allow for any additional angular change in thesystem. As the angle of offset swivel joint connection 25 changes, itforces pipe lines 29 either closer to or away from door 3. Thetelescopic swivel joints Il are adapted to allow such movement kwithoutstrain on the pipe system. Thus, three simple joints interposed in aproperly arranged supply system make possible the installation of aboiler blower in any conventional boiler without interfering with thenormal manipulation thereof.

A simple, preferred form of a telescopic swivel joint is shown in Fig.2. It consists of a reducing coupling 3l, adapted to be screw threadedat one end onto the end of tap line 29, the other end being adapted toreceive a main barrel 33 by means of the usual screw threadedconnection. An annular opening in the opposite end of barrel 33 isadapted to slideably receive the end of jet arm 1 so that while thebarrel isstationary,

the jet arm is free to rotate or to slide telescopically therein. Acollar 40 on the end of jet arm l limits the telescopic motion andsuitable packing 31 is placed in the barrel around jet arm 'I to make asteam or air tight joint. A conventional grease cup 39 is provided forlubrication and packing of the joint. Referring again to Fig. 1,sprocket wheels 4I are xedly mounted on jet arms 1 on the exterior ofdoor 3 for common rotation therewith. Sprocket pinions d3 are mounted ona pivot on door 3 at points convenient for use by the fireman, andsprocket chains 45 are adapted to connect the wheels lll with thepinions 43. Slots M ,are provided in sprocket pinions 43 to receive aconventional bell ycrank (not shown). Suitable valves 49, shown asinterposed in the tap lines 29, are provided to manually control the owof cleaner fluid to the jets 9. A conventional petcock 5l] is providedon the end of the main pipe 21 to permit removal of condensate.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and accompanyingdrawings, that applicant has provided a novel boiler ilue cleaningsystem which, in the combination disclosed, makes possible theinstallation thereof on existing, standard boilers without causing anychange in the operation of such boilers.

I claim:

In a boiler blower system wherein a jet arm, having jets directed towardboiler ilues to be cleaned, is positioned interiorly of a hinged boilerdoor, and wherein an extension of said arm extendsV perpendicularlythrough said door and means are provided for rotating said jet arm byrotation of the exterior portion of said jet arm extension, and a st eamsupply is provided for said jets, a steam supply unit comprising ageneral supply pipe terminating in an oiTset swivel joint with its axisapproaching but apart from the extended axis of said door hinges, a mainpipe extending parallel to the axis of said door hinges and outwardlyspaced apart therefrom, an elbowed connection pipe connecting saidswivel terminating said general supply pipe with said main pipe line, atap line leading from said main line to said jet arm extension, said tapline being perpendicular to said main pipe line and extending parallelto said boiler door, a swivel joint interposed in said main pipe linebetween said tap line and said elbowed pipe connections, whereby saidswivel joints accommodate angular changes caused by the difference inthe positioning of the axis of said door hinges and said swivelterminating the general supply line when said door is swung open orclosed, and a telescopic swivel joint interposed between said tap lineand said jet arm extension, whereby the swivel allows rotation'of saidjet without disturbing the supply unit and the telescoping actionaccommodates variations in spacing of said tap line with respect to saiddoor caused by said angular changes.

CONRAD G. MARKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 858,333 Eichelberger et al. June25, 1907 993,847 Limbert May 30, 1911 1,053,842 Magee Feb. 18, 19131,060,800 Waller May 6, 1913 1,187,758 Magee June 20, 1916

